Hydrocarbon-burner.



0. W. SMITH.

HYDROCARBON BURNER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10. 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

WITNESSES: V IN VENTOB 0. W. SMETH.

HYDROCARBON BURNER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1915.

1,279,169. PatentedSept.17,1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES.- 1H, awe

OSCAR W. SMITH, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

HYDRQCARBON-BURNER.

Specification of Letters Patent. P atnted Sept,

Application filed March 10, 1915. Serial No; 13,508.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR W. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydrocarbon-Burners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to oil-gas burners and more particularly to burners of the character described in United States Patents Numbers 1,134,239 and 1,134,240, issued April 6, 1915. I

The objects of the present invention reside in providing certain new and useful improvements which increase the effectiveness, durability and practicability of the burner.

' One of these improvements consists in means for dividing the retort in which the oil is vaporized into a spiral vaporization chamber and a central mixing chamber, more definitely than in the constructions shown and described in the preceding applications.

A further improvement resides in providing a sectional retort which may be enlarged or reduced by the addition or removal of one or more sections in accordance with varying circumstances.

Another improvement consists in a novel and highly effective means for the supply of heat to the retort in the boiler at the initial point in the operation of the burner,

and still another improvement resides in the means for supplying air and steam to the vaporized oil after it has been discharged from the retort and prior to its ignition.

WVith the above and other objects in view, all of which will fully appear'in the course of the following description, my invention consists of the elements shown in their preferred form in the accompanying drawings in the various views of which like parts are similarly designated, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical axial section through my improved burner,

Fig. 2, a horizontal section along the line 22, Fig. l, and V r Fig. 3, a similar section taken along the line 33, Fig. 1. j

The burner shown in the drawings is composed of two cooperative elements, towit: a base 2 and a superposed generator 3. The space between these two elements provides a mixing zone 4 in which the gaseous matter and residue discharged from the generator is brought in intimate contact with air and-steam ejected through a throat in the upper surface of the base, and a surrounding combustion zone 5 in which the inflammable mixture is consumed.

The approximate point of division between these two zones has been designated in the drawings by the lines 6.

The element 3 consists of a retort 7 which is composed of a plurality of axially alined sections which are joined together by means of bolts "8 extending through exteriorly formed lugs 9. The retort has, interiorly, .a circumferential spiral shelf 10 which at its inner edge is provided with an upwardly projecting flange 12 to divide the interior of the retort into a spiral vaporization chamber 13 and a central mixing chamber 14 which communicate by means of the comparatively narrow spiral slot 15 between the upper edge of the flange and the bottom surface of the shelf.

The bottom of the retort hasa central depression or cup 16 into which the residue of the oil is delivered from the lower end of the shelf through a spout 17 and, surrounding this cup, it has a circular series of vertical exit openings 18 through which the gases generated in the retort are together with the unvaporized residue, discharged into the central portion of'the space between the two elements whichhereinafter will be referred to as the mixing zone. a

The retort is surrounded by a boiler which is'composed of a spiral tube 19 placed within a mantle 20 of cast metal which protects it against the destructive influence of the flames by which both the retort and the boiler are constantly surrounded when the burner is in operation.

' The boiler is spaced concentrically from the exterior surface of the retort and the lugs on the latterfthrough which the bolts 8 extend, divide the space between the two parts into fiues 21 through which rises heat generated in the combustion zone.

The spiral tubular boiler is atone of its ends connected with a source of water sup ply by means of a pipe 22 and its opposite end connects with a conduit 23 through which the generated steam is conveyed to branch pipes connecting with the parts at which it is employed for different purposes as will hereinafter be described- One of these pipes 24, connects with a jacket 25 placed around a conduit 26 through which the oil is conveyed to the spiral vaporization chamber of the retort. Another branch pipe 27 connects with a nozzle 28 The flow through the branch pipes 27 and 29 is ontrolled by valves 30 and 31 and the portion of the p1pe'27 extending over the generator, and that of the pipe23 adjacent the same, are incased in mantles 32 of cast iron for the purpose of protecting them which air is drawn into the same and in against the detrimental eifects of the flames.

v A blow-off cock 33 in the pipe 27 serves to; reduce the steam pressure in the pipe whenever necessary, and it furthermore provides an entrance for wire for the purpose of clearingthe nozzle 28 of obstructive matter. I

The generator is supported upon the base by means of a number of legs, 3& and. the base is in practice fixed within a wall 35-0f brick orother suitable material.

The base onsists of a'hollow cylindrical box which adjacent to its upper edge has a number of inclined tracks 36 upon which a cover plate 37 is loosely supported. This plate is provided with a central throat 38 through which air and steam are delivered into the mixing zone 4, and it has a notched circumferential rim 39 for the application of a poker or other tool whereby to move the plate circularly ,alongthe tracks upon which it is supported.

By thesemeans the depth of the space between the base and the generator which con stitutes themixing zone and thecombustion zone, may be regulated in accordance with different conditions.

Formed exteriorly of the air box are, a number of entrance chambers 40 through which it is heatedby the heat generated in the combustion space. Each of these chambers is by means of a partition 41 divided into two compartments which communicate V with each other by a passage. at the upper end of the partition, one of the said com partments being open at the bottom of'the chamber as at 12 in Fig. .3, for the admission of air, while the other compartment communicates with the interior of the box by means of an opening 4L3.

The boxhas mteriorly upon its bottom surface, a, concentric dividing wall 4 1 into which the lower end of the throat 38 on the cover plate extends. The upper edge of this wall is spaced from the cover plate to provide a passage for the flow of air from the chambers 40 into the throat 38.

A central neck 45 formed beneath the bottom surface of the box, is partially tapered to provide in conjunction with a correspondingly formed spreader 46, an inverted, coneshaped passage 17 for the introduction of a circular sheet-like blast of steam into the box within'th'e confines of its dividing wall.

The spreader is adjustabl'y mounted upon an exteriorly threaded tubular nozzle .418 which extends through a cooperatively threaded central aperture in the lower end of the neck and which has a plurality of openings 49 for the admission of steam which is supplied to the neck through the before-mentioned pipe 29, into its bore.

The nozzle extends into the base to within a short distance from the throat in the cover plate, its purpose being .to deliver ajet of steam into a depression 50 formed in the lower surface of the retort 7.

A pet-cock 51 at the lower end of the nozzle may be used to blow- 01f steam or to admit a wire for removing obstructive matter from the bore of the nozzle.

The entrance chambers 40 have along their upper surfaces. a number of heating ribs'52 which aid in heating the air drawn into the chambers through theiringress openings 42.

Loosely supported upon the plate 37 7 in substantially axial alinement with the retort 7 is a shallow annular trough 53 formed in tegrally upon anumber ofdivergentlegs 54'. The legs are provided with grooves which communicate with the trough for the pur pose of conductingfluid matter from the trough. onto the upper surface of the cover plate, and the trough corresponds approximately in diameter with that of the circular series of exit openings 18 in the bottom of the retort so that fluid matter discharged from the latter will flow intothe trough and thence through the grooves of its legs onto the cover plate of the base.

Atv the initial point in the operation of the burner, .the oil introduced into the vaporization chamber 13 through the conduit 26, flows along the shelf into the cup-16 and thence through the exit openings 18 into the annular trough 53 .and ontothe upper surface of the cover plate 37 of thebase. Upon being ignited this oil will supplythe heat required to initially generate steam in the boiler and vaporize the hydrocarbon liquid fed into the retort.

The steam discharged from the boiler through the conduit 23 circulates through the jacket 25 and thereby preheats the oil before'it enters the vaporization chamber, and the oil flowing along the spiral shelf is I subjected to the heat generated in the combustion space 5 and is thereby rapidly redecomposed in the presence of nascent hy-' dro-carbon vapor. V j

The steam which enters the mixing chamber at the above-stated temperature, causes atomization of the residue collected in the cup 16, thereby compelling it to mix with the vapors which are discharged from the mixing chamber through the exit openings 18.

While the steam passes through the pipes 23 and 27 it is heated to a temperature at which it decomposes in the presence ofheated and nascent carbon and upon entering the retort the physicial separation of the elements is completed by the aid of the hydrocarbon vapors, with the result that the oxygen unites with the carbon forming carbon monoxide gas (CO), marsh gas (CH and other hydrocarbons, while free hydrogen is released to subsequently form a most valuable and highly inflammable gas.

The gases are by action of the heat in the retort, thoroughly intermingled and expanded and are in a mixed condition together with the residue of the hydrocarbon, scattered by the impact of the steam discharged from the mixing chamber through the openings 18, at the same high temperature at which they were generated.

The steam continually introduced into the base through the nozzle 48 and the annular passage 47 creates a partial vacuum in the space within the dividing wall 44, which compels air to enter the entrance chambers and pass along the tortuous course formed by the relative positions of the different parts of the base, into the throat 38 to be forcibly ejected in a heated condition, together with the steam, into the mixing zone 4.

In this zone, the carbon-monoxid gas takes up sufficient oxygen to burn to carbondioxid gas (00,), while the hydrogen gas unites with enough oxygen to burn to 11,0, and the marsh gas unites with the oxygen to burn both to CO and H 0.

The upwardly directed currents of steam and air pushing through the gases discharged from the mixing chamber, drive them outwardly to the point of ignition which in the drawings has been designated by the broken lines 6, and the upwardly and downwardly flowing currents impinge and cross each other, with the result that a perfeet burning mixture is chemically and mechanically produced.

This mixture when reaching the point of ignition, contains all the elements necessary for complete combustion, in a thoroughly mixed condition, and it will be completely consumed without the addition of air from the surrounding atmosphere.

In this connection it will be observed that the mixing zone is entirely separated from the surrounding atmosphere by the flames in the combustion zone and by the generator and base of the burner.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is: 1

1. In a hydrocarbon burner, a generator and a base spaced from each other to provide mixing and combustion zones, the said base having an air chamber provided with an air inlet, and. with an outlet which communicates with. the said mixing zone, and

for introducing steam into the air chamber in a jet and in a hollow blast which encircles said jet.

3. In a hydrocarbon burner, a generator and a base spaced from each other to provide mixing and-combustion zones, the said base having an air chamber provided with an air inlet,and with an outletwhich communicates with the said mixing zone, and adjustable means for introducing steam into the air chamber in a hollow, circular blast.

4. In a hydrocarbon burner, a generator and a base spaced from each other to provide mixing and combustion zones, the said base having an air chamber provided with an air-inlet, an outlet communicating with said mixing zone, and a steam-inlet, and a spreader adapted to form the steam which enters the air chamber through the said steam inlet, into a circular hollow blast.

5. In a hydrocarbon burner, a generator and a base spaced from each other to provide mixing and combustion zones, the said base having an air chamber provided with an air-inlet, an outlet communicating with said mixing zone, and a steam-inlet, and an inverted, conical spreader adapted to form steam which enters the air chamber through the said steam inlet, into a circular hollow blast.

6. In a hydrocarbon burner, a generator and a base spaced from each other to provide mixing and combustion zones, the said base having an air chamber provided with an air-inlet, an outlet communicating with said mixing zone, and a steam-inlet, a nozzle communicating with said steam-inlet, and a spreader mounted on said nozzle in communication with said steam-inlet, and adapted to form steam which enters the air chamber, into a circular hollow blast.-

7. In a hydrocarbon burner, a generator and a base spaced from each other to provide mixing and combustion zones, the said generator comprising a retort having an exit opening for the discharge of fuel into the said mixing zone, and a receptacle having fuel. discharged through the said opening,

and in-its said legs grooves for conducting said fuel onto the upper surface of the base.

8. In a hydrocarbon-burner, a retort hav ing a shelf winding spirally along its interior surface and provided at its outer edge with a flange which extends upwardly to within a short distance from the superposed bottom of the shelf to divide the interior of the retort into a spiral vaporizing chamber and a central mixing chamber connected by a 'IHLITOV' passage.

9. In a hydrocarbon burner,- a generator including an annular casting a spiral tube embedded in the metal of said casting in connection with a source of water-supply, and a retort mounted within said casting in spaced relation to the interior surface Copies of this patent may be obtained .for

connection with a source of water-supply, and a retort composed .of a plurality of sections having outwardly projecting lugs in engagement withthe inner surface of said and bolts extending through said fastening the sections .of the retort casting, lugs for together.

11. In a hydrocarbon'burner, a retort and a base spaced from each other, said retort base. In testimony whereof I have afiiXed' my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR W. SMITH.'

Witnesses:

G. J. ROLLANDE L. RHOADES.

five cents each, ;,by address i n-g the :pomm issioner of Patents, Wash1ngton,.'.D.,C-. 

